After more than 37 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Maj S.E. Croucher, MMM, CD, will retire on 31 October 2024. A Depart with Dignity (DWD) function will be held on 25 October 2024 commencing at 11:30 at the Bunker in Oromocto, N-B. Anecdotes, retirement wishes and planned attendance may be sent to Capt B. Blanchard at bruce.blanchard@forces.gc.ca

Born in Wabush, NL, Major Croucher joined the Canadian Forces in 1987 as a Field Engineer. Upon completion of trades training in Chilliwack, British Columbia, he was posted to 5e Régiment du Génie de Combat, Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, Québec. While there he completed the Combat Diver Course and was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 1990.

In July 1991, he was posted to 4 Engineer Support Regiment, Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, NB. During this posting, he completed the Basic Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course, the Combat Leader Course and was promoted to the rank of Master Corporal.

In 1995, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and posted to Canadian Forces Northern Area Headquarters, Yellowknife, NT, where he worked extensively with the Canadian Ranger Patrol Group situated throughout Northern Canada. Sergeant Croucher also underwent training at the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal in Indian Head, Maryland, USA, where he earned a qualification in Advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal with the United States military.

In 1998, Sergeant Croucher was posted back to 4 Engineer Support Regiment and was employed aS an engineer troop reconnaissance NCO. He also completed training in the United Kingdom and earned a qualification in Biological and Chemical Ordnance Disposal (NATO) with the British Army. In 1999, he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer and employed as an engineer troop Warrant Officer and the Squadron Operations NCO.

In 2002, Warrant Officer Croucher was posted to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal School which lies within the Canadian Forces School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering but later moved to the Canadian Forces School of Administration and Logistics in Borden, Ontario. While there he completed the Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Course and the NATO Explosive Ordnance Disposal Staff Officer/Non-commissioned Officer Course with the British Army in the United Kingdom. On promotion to Master Warrant Officer, he was posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment as a Squadron Sergeant Major in 2004.

Promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in December 2008, he was posted to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in July 2009, as the School Chief Warrant Officer. In June 2012, Chief Warrant Officer Croucher was posted to the Combat Training Centre as the Formation Chief Warrant Officer and in July 2015 he assumed the duties as Division Sergeant-Major for the 5th Canadian Division, the Mighty Maroon Machine.
In August 2018, he was commissioned under the Special Requirements Commissioning Plan and took on the role as the Corps Major. In 2021 he was assigned as the OC Standards, a position he maintained until Sep 2024.

Major Croucher was appointed to the Order of Military Merit as a Member in 2013. He has deployments as part of the Canadian contribution to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda, the United Nations Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as a deployment to Afghanistan under Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Combined Task Force Bayonet.

Maj Croucher is married and the proud father of two adult children. He will retire on 31 Oct 2024 and remain in the local Oromocto area.